Remember back when I talked about this black sweater in November and it sold out by 10 a.m.? I have a feeling this is the equivalent to that but the summer version. It’s a fresh take on a wardrobe basic thanks to the three-piece rule.

The three-piece rule? I’m telling you, you’ve probably heard this dressing rule before.

“Add three articles of clothing, and you’ll feel pulled together.”

A blouse, jeans, and a blazer. Check.

A skirt, a tank, a plaid top. Check. 

Jeans, a fitted sweater, and a scarf. Check.

But in the summer, we simplify that rule. Fewer layers and less fuss lead to an effortless style. In the summer, you want to try the one-piece dressing rule.

A maxi dress. A linen jumpsuit. A midi dress. 

Check. Check. Check.

It requires less effort to throw on a maxi dress than it even does leggings and a tank, so let this be your seasonal uniform. Today’s one-piece dressing challenge features a dress from Walmart that comes in black and dark teal. So why does this dress deserve a blog post?

This dress combines the three-piece rule with the one-piece rule, so you don’t feel too simple. The set of tiered ruffles breaks this dress up into three pieces drawing your eye to three sections, just like the three-piece rule! The tiers hit just below the hip, so it elongates your waist- and who doesn’t want that effect? But instead of having to stand in your closet and wonder what pieces pair with what, you just toss this on and slip on sandals. This dress also has a higher cut under the arm, which I talked about yesterday on the blog- aka, your bra won’t show! The thick straps and scoop neck are flattering on any body type! It’s a breezy dress but made with a more stretch material, so if you had a baby bump to accommodate this would work, too. This dress is also ankle length, and I’m 5’3″ and don’t need to hem it. That never happens with a maxi! You can take this dress into fall by adding a layer. Just throw on a chambray blouse, button it half-way up and then tie at the waist to give it some structure. It’s the type of dress I tried on straight out of the box and thought, “How have I not owned this before?“

You can shop this $48 number here.

I’m taking this bag to the beach, as I bought it because it looks like a far pricier designer version. And my sandals were featured in this blog post.

This is another styled post partaking in the Walmart We Dress America Campaign. I’ve shared before, but I love that this campaign showcases that no matter what you do or where you live, your style has a home here. I think at times social media can make you feel like your life doesn’t equate to many styled looks, so I try to feature relaxed looks if your lifestyle doesn’t necessarily need sequins and stilettos. I mean mine doesn’t as much as I try to force that situation. ha!

So wear your maxi dress with a high pony, a bright lip and go on a date night, or do a messy braid, no makeup and pick your kids up from school. I wore this dress on Tuesday and worked, went to a coffee shop, picked up Maxi from MDO, ran an errand, and watched Moana on the couch and felt true to my style and comfort needs. And I’m wearing this dress today as I run a few last-minute errands, meet a friend for an event tonight, and get a spray tan. 😉 You’ve got to fake it for the beach when you load up on sun protection!

What do you wear in your lifestyle day-to-day?! Do you rock pencil skirts at the office or do you work from home as I do? I’d love to know for future blog posts!